Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Resumes in English—What Recruiters Actually Read

A resume can be translated without any grammatical errors and still come across as weaker. Company names will be correct, job titles will be clear, and dates will match. But the document will read like a chronological work history rather than a compelling case for the candidate.

This is where a literal translation often falls short. The Ukrainian text is translated into English not only word for word but also with the same underlying logic: where the candidate worked, what they were responsible for, and what duties they performed. This isn’t enough for a recruiter. They need to quickly see whether the candidate’s experience matches the specific role and what value the person has already brought in similar situations.

A resume isn’t read like an autobiography. It’s compared to the job opening.
It’s Not About the English—It’s About Positioning
Before translating, it’s worth answering a simple question: what job is the candidate applying for?

A generic resume usually covers a little bit of everything. It includes experience, skills, courses, and a few paragraphs about personal qualities. The problem is that it’s equally vague for ten different job openings.

A strong resume tailors the information to a specific role. For a project manager, the budget, team, deadlines, and client relations may be important. For an analyst, the tools, volume of data, and decisions made based on analysis are key. For a salesperson, what matters are numbers, markets, the sales cycle, and meeting targets.

The same experience can be described in different ways, and that’s not manipulation. The candidate simply highlights what’s most relevant to the job opening.
Responsibilities provide context; results give meaning
The phrase “Was responsible for sales” merely indicates the scope of responsibility. It does not show the scale of the work or explain whether the candidate was successful in that role.

Specifics sound more impactful:

“Increased annual sales by 18% across three regional accounts.”

Or:

“Built a pipeline of 40 qualified leads within six months.”

Numbers are useful, but they shouldn’t be included just for the sake of sounding impressive. If a result can’t be measured in percentages or monetary terms, you can highlight another type of change: a reduction in time, the launch of a process, the number of participants, the scope of responsibility, the correction of an error, or an improvement in quality.

For example:

Introduced a weekly reporting process for a team of 12 people.

Reduced the average response time from two days to six hours.

Coordinated the launch of a new service in two markets.

A strong verb at the beginning helps, but it doesn’t do the trick on its own. “Managed,” “developed,” or “implemented” sound professional only when it’s clear from the context what actually happened.
Not every Ukrainian job title should be translated literally
Job titles vary across companies, even within the same language. A “manager” might lead a team, be responsible for a specific area, or simply be part of the job title. The Ukrainian term “development manager” can also refer to sales, partnerships, operations, or new product launches.

Therefore, a literal translation sometimes only adds to the confusion.

It’s better to check the title against the actual responsibilities and terminology used in job postings for the target market. If necessary, you can keep the official title and provide a clear equivalent in parentheses next to it.

Don’t inflate your job title through translation. If you didn’t manage a function or a team, the word “Head” can create false expectations. During an interview, you’ll have to explain this linguistic career leap without the help of a dictionary.
Literal translations stand out not because recruiters are looking for mistakes
Literal constructions are often grammatically correct but atypical for a resume. They force the reader to pause and piece together the meaning.

For example, the phrase “I was engaged in the development of…” is usually replaced by the simpler “Developed…”. The construction “Worked on the position of…” also sounds like a translation rather than a natural description of experience.

A resume in English generally doesn’t require full first-person sentences. In the work experience section, the pronoun “I” is omitted, and each bullet point begins with an action.

Old version:

“I was responsible for communication with foreign clients.”

Better:

“Managed communication with clients across the UK and Germany.”

Even more precise:

“Led weekly project calls with five clients across the UK and Germany.”

The last version highlights the nature of the work and its scope, rather than just general “communication.”
A resume must pass through more than just a person
Large employers often use applicant tracking systems. These systems store applications, organize information, and can search documents for keywords related to the job requirements.

For this reason, it’s worth tailoring your resume to the wording of the job posting. If an employer is looking for experience in “stakeholder management,” but the candidate describes the same skill as “communication with different departments,” neither automated nor human reviewers may see an exact match.

This doesn’t mean you should copy the entire job description. Keywords must correspond to your actual experience. Otherwise, the document will pass the initial filter but will fall short at the first follow-up question.

Formatting is also important for machine readability. Complex tables, text embedded in images, decorative skill scales, and unusual section titles may be processed less effectively than a simple structure.

The safe option looks almost boring:

● standard headings;
● plain text;
● clear dates;
● consistent job titles;
● bulleted points;
● a file in the format requested by the employer.

A design-oriented resume may be appropriate for creative professions, but it’s best not to disguise a portfolio as a document intended to pass a technical screening.
One or two pages
There is no universal rule that applies to all countries and professions. In the U.S. context, the term “résumé” often refers to a short document tailored to a specific job opening, whereas an academic CV can be significantly longer. In the United Kingdom and many European countries, “CV” is the standard term for a job application document.

For most professionals with a few years of experience, one or two pages are sufficient. But it’s also not worth cutting out strong, relevant experience just to fit the “magic” one-page limit.

The key question isn’t “how many pages are allowed,” but “does each section work for this job opening?”

Fifteen years of experience doesn’t need to be condensed into a few lines. At the same time, your first job—which is no longer related to your current field—doesn’t deserve the same amount of space as your most recent major project.
What the recruiter is trying to understand
During the initial review, they aren’t looking for literary quality or a complete picture of your personality. They need to quickly answer a few practical questions:

● Does the candidate have the required experience?
● Is the scope of their work clear?
● Is there evidence of results?
● Do their skills match the role’s requirements?
● Are there any inconsistencies in dates and job titles?
● Is it worth moving on to an interview?

That’s exactly why a practical guide to preparing a resume in English shouldn’t start with translating every sentence. First, you need to define your goal, select relevant experience, and only then articulate it in natural, professional English.

A good resume doesn’t tell the recruiter everything about you. It gives the recruiter enough reasons to invite you for an interview. Fortunately, you still have the chance to explain the rest in person.

 

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Booking rate for tourist accommodations along Spanish coast has exceeded 85%

The booking rate for vacation rentals along Spain’s coast for August 2026 reached 85.5%, which is 1 percentage point higher than the figure for the same period last year, according to a study by the Rentalia platform published on July 29. The study is based on an analysis of availability calendars for apartments and vacation homes located no more than 15 km from Spanish beaches. In August 2025, the share of booked properties stood at 84.5%.

The highest occupancy rate was recorded in Mallorca, where 99% of vacation rentals were booked for the last month of summer. Next are the Asturian coast at 95.6%, Menorca at 94.6%, Lanzarote at 93.5%, and the province of Alicante at 92.2%.
In Murcia, the booking rate reached 89.1%; in Cantabria, 88.3%; in Cádiz, 87.5%; on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga, 86.8%; and in Almería, 86.5%. In Fuerteventura, the figure matches the national average at 85.5%, and on the Costa Brava, it stands at 85%.

The greatest number of available last-minute booking options remains on the coast of the province of Huelva, where 44.7% of accommodations are occupied. Relatively low occupancy rates were also recorded in Tenerife (72.4%), the province of Valencia (72.6%), the Costa Dorada in Tarragona (76.7%), and the Barcelona coast (77.9%).

Almudena Ucha, director of Rentalia, attributes the rise in demand for northern regions of Spain to the intense summer heat. Occupancy rates for vacation rentals in Asturias rose by 4.7 percentage points over the year, and in Cantabria by 4 points, as tourists are increasingly opting for cooler destinations. Among properties with air conditioning, 86.7% were booked for August, and among those with a pool, 85% were booked. The booking rate for rural homes in Spain’s inland regions was even higher, reaching 87.6%.

Data source: a study by Rentalia, a vacation rental platform on Idealista

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Ukraine’s Danube ports have increased their intake of grain carriers, but river’s low water levels threaten exports

At the end of July, Ukraine’s Danube port cluster sharply increased its intake of grain carriers amid a slowdown in operations at the Greater Odessa ports; however, a critical drop in water levels on the Danube could limit the capacity of this alternative export route.

According to the brokerage firm Spike Brokers, the number of grain railcars heading to the Danube ports increased nearly sevenfold over the week—from 167 to 1,141 thousand railcars. The average daily unloading rate rose by 17 railcars to 51 railcars per day.

At the same time, the number of grain railcars heading toward the ports of Greater Odessa fell by approximately 70%—to a record low of 1,356 railcars, compared to 4,525 railcars a week earlier. Average daily unloading decreased by 160 railcars to 690, while loading decreased by 203 railcars to 580 railcars per day.

In July, 1.38 million metric tons of grain were transported by rail to Ukrainian seaports, which is 37% less than in June. Additional constraints included overcrowding at certain port terminals and delays in transshipping grain from railcars to ships.

Thus, the increase in railcar deliveries to the Danube currently appears to be an immediate market response to the slowdown in operations in the Greater Odessa area. However, the capacity of the Danube route is also under pressure due to the rapid shallowing of the river.

At the end of July, the water flow in the Danube at the entrance to Romania dropped to 1,650 cubic meters per second, compared to an average July level of about 4,750 cubic meters. By August 4, according to forecasts, the figure could drop to 1,500 cubic meters per second, approaching the historic low of 1,400 cubic meters set in 1985.

Back in July, the Romanian Lower Danube Administration recorded a sharp drop in water levels across virtually the entire navigable stretch from Băziaș to Sulina. Near Corabia, several barges ran aground, and actual depths in certain critical sections decreased to 1.5–1.7 meters. Dredging operations are being carried out to maintain depths of at least 1.8–2 meters.

The main risk for Ukraine lies not necessarily in a complete shutdown of the Danube ports, but in a reduction in the permissible draft of vessels. Barges and river-sea hybrid vessels will be forced to carry less grain, which will increase the number of voyages, transportation costs, and fleet turnaround time.

Even if the terminals in Reni and Izmail retain the capacity to receive railcars, the slowdown in loading grain onto vessels could lead to a buildup of rolling stock at stations near the ports. The disparity is already evident: 1,141 railcars are heading toward the Danube ports, while the average daily unloading rate is only 51 railcars.

If this ratio persists, the terminals may once again face overcrowding, after which Ukrzaliznytsia will have to impose restrictions on the shipment of certain cargoes or implement temporary measures.

The second risk is related to the increase in queues on the Romanian sections of the Danube and the Sulina Canal. The ports of Reni and Izmail depend not only on the water depths directly at the Ukrainian berths but also on the condition of the entire Lower Danube route. As the Danube Commission notes, a single shallow section can become a “weak link” and restrict traffic along the entire international corridor.

Silting also complicates the transport of Ukrainian grain by barge to Constanta, Romania. A reduction in the load capacity of a single barge means that more vessels must be deployed to transport the same volume of cargo. This increases freight rates, transshipment costs, and the risk of fines for vessel downtime.

The third risk is the simultaneous decline in the reliability of the two main maritime routes. The ports of Greater Odessa are currently operating more slowly due to terminal congestion and delays in loading ships, while the Danube—which is supposed to serve as a backup route—faces a natural limitation on its throughput capacity.

This factor becomes particularly critical during the arrival of the new grain harvest. Rising logistics costs could lower purchase prices within Ukraine, delay the fulfillment of export contracts, and widen the price gap between Ukrainian ports and the global market.
On June 24, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority began operational dredging in the waters of the Port of Izmail. The work is intended to restore the design depths near the berths and allow for the maximum possible draft and cargo capacity of vessels. It was planned to be completed within two months.

However, dredging within the Ukrainian port alone cannot fully compensate for the drop in water levels in the Romanian and transboundary sections of the Danube. To maintain stable traffic flow, Ukraine and Romania will need to work in sync, promptly mark the fairway, conduct regular depth soundings, dredge critical sections, and regulate vessel queues.

The Ministry of Infrastructure had previously identified dredging as one of the main “bottlenecks” in Danube logistics and discussed with the European Commission and Romania the coordination of traffic, the use of the PRIMUS digital system, and measures to address a potential reduction in the capacity of the Odessa-Danube route.

The Danube ports remain a strategic reserve for Ukraine’s foreign trade.
After the start of the full-scale war, their throughput capacity was increased to 35 million metric tons per year. However, actual transshipment volumes fell from 17.4 million metric tons in 2024 to 8.9 million metric tons in 2025, and authorities had previously forecast approximately 5 million metric tons for 2026.

The current increase in grain ship traffic indicates that businesses are ready to quickly return to the Danube route should problems arise in the Greater Odessa area. However, record-low water levels in the river may prevent the ports from fully accommodating this additional traffic, potentially turning the rerouting of cargo by rail into a new logistical bottleneck.

 

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Three Regions Accounted for Half of Ukraine’s New Utility Debts

According to Open4business, the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv regions accounted for about half of all new enforcement proceedings related to utility debts initiated in Ukraine during the first half of 2026.

The highest number of new cases was recorded in the Kharkiv region—22,171 thousand, or about 20% of the national total, according to a study by Opendatabot published on August 3.

The Dnipropetrovsk region ranked second with 19,636 thousand cases, accounting for 18% of new utility debt cases.

The Mykolaiv region came in third with 12,841 thousand cases, or about 12% of the total.

In total, 54,648 thousand enforcement proceedings were initiated in these three regions—slightly more than half of the 108,561 thousand new cases across Ukraine.

The statistics specifically account for enforcement proceedings, not individual consumers. Multiple cases may be opened against a single person, for example, for heating, water, gas, or electricity.

As of early July 2026, there were 829,768 thousand utility debts listed in the Unified Register of Debtors. Sixty-five percent of the enforcement proceedings initiated during the first half of the year remained open and unpaid.

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Novoselivsky Mining and Processing Plant Reports 7.8% Decline in First-Half Profit

PJSC “Novoselivsky Mining and Processing Plant” (NGZK, Kharkiv Oblast) saw its net profit decline by 7.8% in January–June of this year compared to the same period last year—to 12.480 million UAH from 13.536 million UAH.

According to the company’s interim report, available to the agency “Interfax-Ukraine,” revenue from ordinary activities for this period rose by 7.4%—to 112.440 million UAH.

Retained earnings as of the end of June 2026 amounted to 116.772 million UAH.

As previously reported, NGZK posted a net loss of 4.441 million UAH in January–March of this year, whereas in the same period last year it reported a net profit of 3.677 million UAH; revenue from ordinary operations for that period was 36.067 million UAH (47.396 million UAH).

According to the annual report, NGZK increased its net profit to 20.170 million UAH in 2025 from 18.938 million UAH in 2024. At the same time, revenue from ordinary operations for this period increased compared to 2024, rising to 190.631 million UAH from 168.553 million UAH.

In 2024, NGZK increased its net profit by 6.1% compared to 2023—to 18.938 million UAH, while net revenue rose by 11.6% to 168.553 million UAH.

The Novoselivsky Mining and Processing Plant was established in 2000. It is engaged in the extraction of sand, gravel, and clay.

According to data from the National Securities and Stock Market Commission for the first quarter of 2026, Silica Holding LLC (Ukraine) owns 94.8205% of the public joint-stock company.

The authorized capital is 21.25 million UAH.

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In Ukraine, more than 100,000 cases were filed in first half of year regarding utility bill arrears

In Ukraine, from January through June 2026, 108,561 thousand new enforcement proceedings were initiated due to arrears in housing and utility services, according to data from the Unified Register of Debtors published by Opendatabot on August 3.
70,206 thousand cases remain open and unpaid, or 65% of those initiated this year. They account for about 9% of all utility debts currently recorded in the registry.

In total, as of early July, the Unified Register of Debtors contained 829,768 thousand cases related to utility debt. For comparison: in November 2025, there were 794,604 thousand; in July 2024, 701,051 thousand; and in January 2021, 344,565 thousand.
Thus, over five and a half years, the number of utility debt entries has increased by approximately 2.4 times.

About 62% of the cases in the registry are formally closed, but this does not necessarily mean that the debt has been repaid. An enforcement officer may close a case due to the impossibility of collection or for other reasons, while the debt record remains in the registry.
Some cases have remained open for more than nine years. Among the oldest cases are a heating debt owed by a resident of the Chernihiv region and a debt for water supply and sewer services owed by a resident of the Lviv region.

However, the number of enforcement proceedings does not equal the number of unique debtors: multiple cases may be opened against a single person regarding different services or periods of debt.
The Unified Register of Debtors contains information on individuals and legal entities against whom enforcement proceedings have been initiated. You can check for an entry through the state register or the Opendatabot service.

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